Yggdrasil or ON Yggdrasill is the World Tree in Norse Mythology. Said to be made out of a giant ash tree, it is basically the central point of the universe connecting each of the Nine Worlds together. The trunk of the tree may be though of as forming a vertical axis around which all the worlds are situated.
From descriptive passages, Asgard is at the top, and Hel at the bottom, the world of man is the middle surrounded by a vast ocean, to the right (although sometimes referred to as surrounded by) is Jotunheim the land of the Giants. There are some artistic drawings that also show Vanaheim to the left of Asgard, and a realm for the dwarfs and elves.
“The most commonly accepted etymology of the name is ygg “terrible” + drasil “steed”. While the name means the “terrible steed”, it is usually taken to mean the “steed of the terrible one”, with Yggr the epithet of the god Odin. In other words, Odin’s horse, referring to the nine nights he is said to have spent hanging from the tree, or “riding the gallows”, in order to acquire knowledge of the runes. The gallows are sometimes described in Old Norse poetry as the “horse of the hanged.” In the case of “terrible steed”, the association with Odin may be secondary, and any number of riders possible. A third interpretation, with etymological difficulties, is “yew-column”, associating the tree with the Eihwaz rune. Fjölsvinnsmál, a poem in the Poetic Edda, refers to the World Tree as Mimameid (Old Norse: Mímameiðr, “Mímir’s tree” ). The tree is also probably identical to Laerad (Old Norse: Læraðr) a tree whose leaves and branches reach down to the roof of Valhalla and provide food for the goat Heidrun (Old Norse: Heiðrún) and the stag Eikthyrnir (Old Norse: Eikþyrnir).” (1)
It is also described as: “In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil (“The Terrible One’s Horse”), also called the World Tree, is the giant ash tree that links and shelters all the worlds. Beneath the three roots the realms of Asgard, Jotunheim, and Niflheim are located. Three wells lie at its base: the Well of Wisdom (Mímisbrunnr), guarded by Mimir; the Well of Fate (Urdarbrunnr), guarded by the Norns; and the Hvergelmir (Roaring Kettle), the source of many rivers. Four deer run across the branches of the tree and eat the buds; they represent the four winds. There are other inhabitants of the tree, such as the squirrel Ratatosk (“swift teeth”), a notorious gossip, and Vidofnir (“tree snake”), the golden cock that perches on the topmost bough. The roots are gnawed upon by Nidhogg and other serpents. On the day of Ragnarok, the fire giant Surt will set the tree on fire. Other names for the tree include: Ask, Yggdrasil, Hoddmimir’s Wood, Laerad and Odin’s Horse.” (2)
Yggdrasil was under constant attack by the deer that foraged on its leaves and the dragon that ate its roots. It was permantly decaying and the Norn’s would heal it every day with water from their well. According to some, because the dragon who lives under the roots of the tree, devoured dead bodies, the smell wafded towards Asgard which was probably not that appealing. That is pure speculation however!
The tree itself serves as the basic structure or glue that holds all parts of the universe. The Norse were not the first and only culture to see a tree being an important if not pivitoal part of mythology. In many cultures, the world tree represents something that connects us all together, a universal symbol that has many similar associations.
It represents a connection between man and nature, or man and gods, or the spiritual and the mundane. The Celtic people also had a great deal of lore surrounding trees.
Trees seem to have an entire mythology all on their own, that changes from culture to culture. Even today, the symbol of the tree or world tree seems to embue thoughts of peace and connection to all living and spiritual things. Yggdrasil can be used as a spiritual map, and actually be walked upon in path-walking. Some people actually visualize this as the first thing they see before trecking off to various places. It is a serene place.
In my personal meditations, I use it as a centre point of reference, and always see Yggdrasil with stairs that connect this realm to the realms above and below, the stairs can be walked up to get in any direction that you wish to go. I have always seen Yggdrasil as a big tree with roots and leaves that stretch far beyond mortal vision. It is of unknown size and location, because you cannot actually see it and obviously it is beyond any human comprehension of size. Just as our own universe is of unknown dimensions and can only be speculated. We only know of our small solar system but the infinite dimension of space is certainly unmeasurable.
It is the same thing with the tree. Authors such as Edred Thorsson suggest that is is a multiverse, exsiting in various dimensions perhaps even multiple dimensions all at once. The thing is, you cannot be sure of something that is not measureable…all we can speculate is that Yggradsil is not limited to any particular place, size or dimension.
Sources
1-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yggdrasil
2-http://www.pantheon.org/articles/y/yggdrasil.html
